MISSOULA — The Eureka Lions have scheduled an exhibition game with Missoula Loyola for Sept. 11 after their previously scheduled game with Deer Lodge has been forfeited by the Wardens.
Eureka head coach Trevor Utter, athletic director Brendan Miller and Loyola coach Todd Hughes confirmed the news with MTN Sports Wednesday evening.
According to Miller, Deer Lodge will play its scheduled varsity game with Three Forks on Friday, but then is opting to play the remainder of the season with a junior varsity schedule. Deer Lodge (0-1) opened the season with a 46-8 loss to Conrad last week.
Deer Lodge athletic director Dakota Norris confirmed that plan to MTN Sports and added that the Wardens still need to get approval from the Montana High School Association and their administration to play a JV schedule. Norris said the team should know by Monday if that will be the case. Norris said the Wardens have only 17 players out for football, including nine freshmen.
According to Utter, the forfeit counts as a win for Eureka on Sept. 11 and the game versus Loyola serves as a non-conference exhibition only. The Lions (1-0) opened the season with a 14-0 win over Bonners Ferry, Idaho, last Friday. Loyola opens its season at Fairfield on Friday.
Loyola and Eureka will suit up for a conference matchup in Missoula on Oct. 9.
